How do you sweeten with honey for diabetics?

A:

Quick Answer

To sweeten food with honey for a diabetic, use only a moderate amount of honey in recipes, and include its number of carbohydrates in the diabetic meal plan, suggests Mayo Clinic. Honey has a sweeter taste than sugar, but it can similarly increase a diabetic’s blood sugar level.

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Both honey and sugar almost equally affect a person’s blood sugar level, says About.com. While honey is a more natural alternative to refined white sugar, it still contains simple sugars such as fructose, glucose and sucrose.

Honey and white sugar have nearly the same amounts of nutrients, although honey weighs slightly more than sugar, explains About.com. Honey contains 21 calories per teaspoon, whereas white sugar consists of 15 calories per teaspoon. A diabetic may use either honey or sugar as a sweetener, but both should be used in moderation.

A diabetic should not consume foods with sugar content above 5 grams per serving, states the University of Maryland Medical Center. Compared to sugar and honey, non-nutritive sweeteners approved by the FDA are likely more beneficial for diabetics as they do not increase blood sugar levels, states SFGate. Saccharin, sucralose, aspartame and neotame are several FDA-approved sweeteners that can be added in small amounts to a diabetic’s meals.